As part of stamping the authority of the state following violence that broke out in Pienaarsdorp in Klerksdorp, police reacted swiftly and arrested nine suspects aged between 22 and 52 on Sunday, 9 September 2018 for murder and public violence.
The suspects’ arrest follows two separate incidents in which two people were killed in Pienaarsdorp, Klerksdorp. It is alleged that police in Klerksdorp were patrolling the area yesterday morning when they found a body of a male on the street. It came out later that the body with two stab wounds, was of a local taxi driver.
It is alleged that an unconfirmed number of taxi drivers grouped themselves with intention to avenge their colleague’s death who they alleged was killed by foreign nationals. According to information available at this stage, reports suggests that later during the day, a 28-year-old Zimbabwean national was allegedly stabbed with a knife on his chest by taxi drivers while at his tuck-shop. He was taken to hospital, but certified dead on arrival.
Prior to that a group of people suspected to be taxi drivers were seen setting alight hawkers stalls at the taxi rank. Public Order Police (POP) was mobilised and managed to normalise the situation. Consequently, two separate cases of murder were opened for investigation.
The nine suspects arrested for the alleged murder of a Zimbabwean national are expected to appear in the Klerksdorp Magistrate’s Court tomorrow, 11 September 2018. They will also be facing a charge of public violence.
The North West Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Baile Motswenyane has condemned these occurrences and urged members of the community to respect the rule of law and to refrain from taking the law into their own hands. She said further that the police will not hesitate to act against anyone who commits crime including damaging of properties.
